Thanks to the Dominican Fathers in Cairo, I saw the main historic places of the Egyptian metropolis in the best conditions. On the 24th of June, I land in Beyrouth where I have no difficulty to get to the place where I’m going to stay, for my great-aunt, who also belongs to the Order of Preachers, other designation for the Dominicans, has come to the airport to meet me. I recognized “aunt Marie-Louise” immediately, thanks to her clerical dress. The convent is located in Verdun street, Fayoumé quarter, in front of the embassy of Brazil. We get there by taxi. I notice at once that a large part of the city centre has been badly damaged by the current civil war, which flares up again after each breach of truce. Everything is very quiet to-day. I quickly note that the traffic lights are not at all respected and that the driver in the greatest hurry goes first.

Like in Cairo, the atmosphere that reigns among the Sisters placed in my presence is simple and friendly. The conversations and the meals are informal and relaxed. I don’t notice an atmosphere of reclusion and severity among the Sisters, but on the contrary, of exchanges and open-mindedness. I arrive here with my hands nearly empty for I couldn’t bring the slides about Ethiopia and any coffee either, which I had been asked for. I try at least, the best that I can, to answer the many questions I’m asked about my “great trip”, which is coming to its end.

On the following day, the 25th of June, in the morning, I visit the capital of Lebanon. Nearly everybody can speak French here, beside Arabic. Everyone is welcoming. Above, you can see the place de l’Etoile (Square of the Star), excavated for archaeological purposes, which doesn’t prevent a market to put up its stalls there. One can sight the Sérail (seraglio) tower, spoiled by the war.

These six photos (above) show the state of desolation that Beirut centre presents, following the bombardments of the war, which is still going on.Albeit very close, the Dominican Sisters’ convent quarter is not so often the target of fire, and is relatively spared.

I quickly notice that everybody seems to live in a nearly normal way. The city is busy, the shops are open, and leisure activities are going on. These anglers manage to find a necessary moment of relaxation and the defaced buildings can’t change anything to it. A certain atmosphere of freedom seems to prevail in spite of the war. For example, I can go nearly wherever I like in town, I can photograph whatever I want without hindrance and without “black looks” in the eyes, and I’m not searched here. People are kind and seem to be able to put up with hardships with some “naturalness”, a fatalism often supposed to be characteristic of the Orientals. But of course my foreign visitor’s look doesn’t enable me to understand all the complexity of the tragic situation the country is going through. PART 33